THOMAS IS LOOKING POISED FOR STEEP TEST
CROSSWINDS have already had a major impact on this year’s Tour de France but now the general classification battle ramps up with the cols of the Pyrenees.
Yesterday ended with the main contenders finishing safely behind a sprint into Toulouse that was won by Caleb Ewan — his first stage victory in the Tour — but today takes in two first category climbs in the 13km Col de Peyresourde and the 10km Hourquette d’Ancizan.
A descent into Bagneres- deBigorre marks the conclusion to 209.5kms of racing but Julian Alaphilippe described it as a ‘real stage’. His only hope, as a Frenchman, is that he can retain the race lead for what will be the 100th anniversary of the first yellow jersey — worn by Eugene Christophe on July 19, 1919 for a stage that covered a staggering 371km. To emulate a compatriot perhaps even more famous for welding his own bike back together during the Tour would be some honour for Alaphilippe.
But remaining in the maillot jaune much beyond that would take some doing for a rider who has never won a race lasting longer than a week.
Even Alaphilippe nodded in the direction of Team Ineos yesterday — in particular to a Welshman starting to look like he might just defend the Tour title he secured in such impressive fashion 12 months ago.
Asked how long he could stay in yellow, Alaphillipe said he was ‘looking forward to finding out’ and a nation that craves another Tour champion as much as England long for a repeat of 1966 and all that, certainly hope he can surprise even himself.
‘Paris is a really long way,’ he said. ‘And Geraint Thomas looks really strong and confident.’
He looks so strong Sir Dave Brailsford appears to have performed a U-turn on the pre-race announcement that Thomas and Egan Bernal are joint-leaders of the all-conquering British outfit in the absence of the injured Chris Froome.
Brailsford has certainly given the impression in France that Bernal is more likely to serve Thomas as a super-domestique and the young Colombian made noises to that effect here.
When it was put to Bernal that today attack advantage, might Alaphilippe’s he be an responded opportunity 72- second like to a member ambitions of of a a team principal serving rider. the ‘I think we should wait,’ said Bernal. ‘We are in a really good position with G (Thomas) second and for sure he can do a really good TT, so we should not take any risks.’ The time trial to which Bernal refers comes tomorrow over 27.2km. It is followed by a relatively short stage that finishes at the summit of the mighty Tourmalet. By then we should have a much better idea if Thomas really is in shape to win this bike race.